Illinois Lottery Responsible Gaming

Responsible Gaming

Set Your Limits Campaign

As a participant in National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (March), the Illinois Lottery is reminding everyone to “Set Your Limits” and behave responsibly when it comes to buying Lottery tickets, and interacting in all games of chance.

Commitment to Responsible Play and Consumer Protection

The Illinois Lottery appreciates the unique obligation publicly sponsored gaming programs have to protect players and provide gaming entertainment with the highest standards of social responsibility. Applying responsible gaming and consumer protection best practices, the Lottery operates under procedures that emphasize our core values of integrity and responsibility.

Consumer Protection and Support

Consistent with Illinois law, no Lottery tickets will be sold to persons under the age of 18.

If you believe you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). For more information or to exclude yourself call 1-800-252-1775.

Our Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSEP)

The Voluntary Self-Exclusion program was developed to help players who classify themselves as 'problem gamblers.' The Illinois Lottery allows a person to ban him/herself from receiving Lottery prizes or any direct mail/email promotional materials. Put simply, the agreement bars those individuals from receiving payment for winning Illinois Lottery tickets.

How does it work?

A Lottery player can sign a contract provided by the Illinois Lottery, have it notarized, and then return it to the Lottery. In the contract, a player acknowledges that he/she is a problem gambler, and that his/her ability to claim Lottery prizes is an unwelcome incentive to play. Players acknowledge that they want to reduce the incentive to play by entering into a voluntary self-exclusion agreement.

The Lottery maintains a computer database containing the Social Security Numbers of those who have signed the contracts, and checks this information whenever someone tries to claim a prize at an Illinois Lottery office. Those players on the list are denied prize payment.

If a player has an account on the internet, the account will be locked, prohibiting future purchases and prize payments.

In addition, the Lottery will not send direct mail/email to players who participate in the Voluntary Self Exclusion Program.

How can I get a form?

Click the link below to download and print the most current version of the form. You can also get a form from a Lottery regional office, or contact one of the problem gambling assistance organizations in our directory.

Links To Other Web Sites

The Illinois Lottery offers the foregoing information as a service to its players, in order to facilitate access to treatment for gambling addictions. It makes no representations as to the quality of any program or facility listed. Should any program or treatment facility not listed above wish to be included in the resource directory, please forward your contact information to the Illinois Lottery, Legal Section, 101 W. Jefferson, MC5-950, Springfield, IL 62702 or e-mail the information to LotteryInfo@NorthstarLottery.net.